Are you thinking about creating a full-fledged product? It’s an exciting idea, but making it happen and gaining support from your audience can be tricky and even risky. Managing all the elements and outcomes can feel overwhelming. What if you didn’t have to invest all your time and money into a complete product? Instead, you could run a small test to gather market feedback and determine if your target audience would like it or not. This is where the type of MVP development comes in.
Since every business is unique, so are the MVPs, and choosing the right MVP development company is key. Different types of MVPs are suited to different industries, and choosing the right approach can make all the difference. Whether you’re testing a new app, product, or service, an MVP allows you to validate your idea with minimal investment while learning from real user feedback.
In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of MVP development that are being used by different industries. By the end of this blog, you’ll have a clear understanding of MVPs. You will be able to find an MVP that will be best for your business.
Key statistics
MVP world is growing and affecting the way businesses work and launch their products. let’s discuss the key statistics of MVP and get to know how they are transforming industries.
- According to CB insights, Around 75% of startups fail because they don’t find the right product-market fit, highlighting the importance of testing ideas with an MVP.
- According to the Harvard Business Review, 50% of businesses that use MVPs to test product ideas can achieve market validation faster and also cut down the time it takes to launch the process.
- According to Shopify, 55% of MVPs in the e-commerce sector mainly focus on core features to test customer interest before expanding, leading to an improved overall success rate.
- According to McKinsey & Company, 67% of businesses that use an MVP approach saw improvement in product market fit and also in higher customer satisfaction.
- According to Forbes, 65% of entrepreneurs agree that building an MVP helps reduce financial risk during product development.
What is an MVP?
A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a product version that includes only the essential features needed to test an idea or concept with early users. It focuses on the core functionalities that solve a specific problem or meet a basic customer need. The goal is to quickly learn from real market feedback while minimizing investment in time and resources. For example, when Dropbox first launched, it wasn’t the fully polished product we know today. Instead, it started as a simple demo video to showcase how the file synchronization would work, which helped the company validate the idea before investing heavily in development.
The MVP concept was introduced by Frank Robinson in 2001 and gained wider recognition thanks to figures like Eric Ries and Steve Blank, who integrated it into the Lean Startup methodology. The MVP development process allows businesses to test their assumptions early, gather valuable user feedback, and adjust their products based on that input. Companies like Instagram started with minimal features to prove their ideas could attract users before expanding into the comprehensive platforms we see today. This strategy helps reduce the risk of failure, as businesses can make data-driven decisions on whether to continue development or pivot.
However, while MVPs offer the advantage of faster time to market and lower initial costs, they do come with challenges. A product that’s too minimal might fail to solve a real problem or meet customer expectations, which can hurt long-term growth. For example, releasing a product with too few features might result in negative user feedback, preventing the product from gaining traction. To address this, some companies have embraced a more customer-centric approach, striving to create an MLA that not only solves a problem but also delights users from the start.
What Are the Different Types of MVPs?
It is never easy to determine which form of MVP to select for your business however, understanding various types of MVPs may help. Such information allows an effective comparison of the available options and, ultimately, determines what solution is most suitable for a business, as well as visible results. Every MVP is designed to fit certain sectors, so there has to be one that fits your needs. So, let’s discuss different types of MVP.
1. The Fake Door MVP
The Fake Door MVP development is a type of MVP used to validate customer interest with minimal effort and cost. It involves creating an advertisement or landing page for a feature that doesn’t yet exist, aimed at gauging potential client interest. The “fake door” typically appears as an attractive call-to-action or button promising the feature, but when clicked, users are shown a message like, “This feature is coming soon.” This approach helps test demand without investing heavily in development.
For example, a company might create a landing page for a “premium subscription” feature. When users attempt to sign up, they receive a message stating that it’s not yet available. While this method is quick and requires minimal investment, it has limitations—users may feel frustrated knowing the feature isn’t available, and it doesn’t provide insights into actual user experience or functionality.
2. Landing Page MVP Development
Another popular type of MVP development is the Landing Page MVP. A landing page MVP is a simple website that showcases your proposition to potential customers targeted by your offering. The page generally contains a sales proposition, an outline of the product offer, and an invitation to action, commonly represented as a form to subscribe. This MVP approach is about confirming the interest before adding more features to your product, which lets vary the messages and promos.
Example: A tech company creating a landing page that introduces the upcoming project management tool; to accompany the page, there is the Call to Action to join the waiting list earlier.
Advantages:
- Low-cost and quick to execute.
- Helps collect user information and measure interest through sign-ups or inquiries.
Limitations:
- Does not test product functionality.
- May not capture all insights needed for product development.
3. Email Campaign MVP
The Email Campaign MVP is a popular strategy for testing customer interest using targeted email marketing. With this approach, businesses can send emails showcasing new products or features and assess how much attention they receive from potential customers. This method works well for companies with established email lists or targeting early adopters, allowing them to gauge interest and refine their offerings.
The advantages of this approach include receiving direct feedback from an engaged audience and tailoring future marketing campaigns. However, it has limitations as it only provides insights from an email list, which might not represent the broader market, and it doesn’t show how users interact with the product itself. For example, a mobile app company might send a promotional email campaign offering a sneak peek of a new feature, inviting users to click through to a survey or sign-up form.
4. Marketing Campaign MVP
A Marketing Campaign MVP involves running a targeted marketing campaign, such as paid ads or social media promotions, to test the demand for a product or feature. This type of MVP development is useful when you want to validate whether your messaging and product concept will resonate with a larger audience before building the product itself.
Example: A new e-commerce platform runs Facebook ads showing a sneak peek of their product, directing users to a landing page with a waitlist or pre-order option.
Advantages:
- A quick way to test the market and customer interest.
- Helps businesses understand whether their concept has potential before making large investments.
Limitations:
- This can lead to false positives if the campaign generates interest but the product doesn’t meet customer expectations.
- Does not provide insights on product functionality.
5. Single-Feature
Delivering just one essential feature that addresses a particular issue for clients is the main goal of the Single-Feature MVP. This approach allows businesses to test whether the feature resonates with their target market before investing in building out additional features. It’s a great option when you want to keep things simple but need early feedback on your product’s value proposition.
Example: A task management app starts by launching only a basic to-do list feature, validating its effectiveness and demand before expanding with project collaboration tools. The advantages of this MVP development include being simple to develop, focusing on one key functionality, and gathering direct feedback on the feature’s value, which allows for quick iteration. However, the limited scope may not provide enough information about broader user needs, and customers might feel the product is incomplete without other expected features.
6. Pre-order MVP
The Pre-order MVP allows businesses to test demand for a product by offering it for pre-order before it’s developed. This approach validates that customers are willing to commit to purchasing the product, providing early revenue to fund the development process. It’s particularly useful for physical products or hardware, where manufacturing and production costs can be high.
Example: A tech company launches a crowdfunding campaign for their new smartwatch, offering early-bird discounts to customers who pre-order the product.
Advantages:
- Validates market demand and generates early revenue.
- Reduces financial risk by securing commitments upfront.
Limitations:
- Relies heavily on customer trust, as the product doesn’t yet exist.
- Risk of refunds or customer dissatisfaction if the product fails to meet expectations.
7. Concierge MVP
One of the more hands-on types of MVP is the Concierge MVP. The Concierge MVP development involves offering a manual service to users before automating the process. This MVP type is valuable for testing product concepts and understanding user needs in detail. By interacting directly with users, businesses can refine the product and ensure it delivers real value before scaling.
The advantage of this MVP is that it provides valuable, hands-on learning about customer needs and helps build strong relationships with early customers who are willing to provide feedback. However, it has limitations, such as being non-scalable and time-intensive, and it can be challenging to switch from manual to automated processes. For example, a new meal delivery service might manually prepare and deliver meals to a small group of customers, collecting feedback before automating the process through an app or website.
8. Wizard of Oz MVP
The Wizard of Oz MVP has the look of a finished, automated product, but in truth, human labor occurs behind the scenes. This approach is used to test user interactions and gain valuable insights before investing in complex automation and technology.
Example: A new AI-powered chatbot looks automated, but behind the scenes, customer service agents are responding to inquiries manually.
Advantages:
- Allows for early testing of product ideas and user interaction without building out full functionality.
- Explains what is effective and what needs to be improved.
Limitations:
- This can lead to user frustration if they discover the product isn’t fully automated.
- May not scale in the long run if manual efforts are needed continuously.
9. Piecemeal MVP
Among the types of MVP development, this is the most resource-efficient. The Piecemeal MVP involves using existing tools and services to build a product prototype, instead of developing everything from scratch. This is a cost-effective approach that enables businesses to launch quickly and test their ideas without a large investment in custom software development.
For example, A service-based platform uses Shopify for e-commerce, Mailchimp for email marketing, and Zapier for automating workflows, offering a basic product without custom-built features. The advantages of this MVP include being quick to build and cost-effective using pre-existing solutions. It can also be easily scaled by replacing third-party services with custom solutions later. However, it has limitations, such as being limited in terms of customization and unique value propositions, and it may not provide the best user experience if the third-party tools are not perfectly aligned.
10. Explainer Video MVP
Explainer video MVP is one of the most engaging types of MVP. This employs a short animated video to explain the product concept and benefits and how it solves the problem. The idea is that this type of MVP is very helpful in getting people’s attention and their feedback, as it creates an opportunity to explain a lot of complex ideas in a very simple and interesting manner.
Example: A startup creates a 90-second animated video that explains how their app solves a specific problem, sharing the video on social media and email to see if it generates interest.
Advantages:
- A quick and low-cost way to communicate product value.
- Easy to share and gather feedback from a wide audience.
Limitations:
- Doesn’t provide direct user interaction or feedback on product functionality.
- Limited to testing interest rather than actual usability.
What type of MVP is best for you?
The type of minimum viable product that you need to design for your business depends on the kind of product that you want to develop, the market to which the product is going to be sold, and most importantly, the resources that you have at your disposal. If you want to learn about your product and whether will it work or not and want to invest the least amount of effort, then Landing Page MVP could be the way to go. It allows you to identify if the people you are targeting would be interested in the product before you develop it. However, if you aim for direct feedback on aspects, that were incorporated into the product, then it is possible that “Single-Feature MVP” is more appropriate to launch, to check whether the designed function is valuable for the users.
Ultimately, the best MVP for your business will match your goals, industry, and how much risk you’re willing to take. For example, technology companies may find the ‘Wizard of Oz MVP’ good where the back end looks efficient but is operated manually while ‘Pre-order MVP’ can be used by e-commerce companies where the aim is to check the demand before going for production. While selecting the type of MVP, it is possible to reduce the amount of money spent on development, assess the potential of the concept as soon as possible, and boost the success rate in the target market.
Need Expert Help with MVP Development?
Looking to develop an MVP? Amplework a AI development agency, we specialize in MVP development and offer customized solutions to bring your product idea to life with minimal risk and investment. Whether you need a reliable MVP development company or a trusted MVP development agency to handle the technical side, our team has the experience to support you. We provide MVP development services and are recognized as a leading MVP development company in the region.
Our experienced professionals will guide you through every step of the process, from validating your idea with the right MVP type to scaling your product for the market. At Amplework, we ensure your MVP is built with the right features, tested for market fit, and ready for growth. Let us help you speed up your product development with our expert services.
Conclusion
When you are ready to build a 100% product with resources can be time-consuming and money investing to avoid this people use MVPs. and knowing MVPs and types of MVPs is also so important in this rapidly changing world. You can see if your chosen MVP aligns with your business goals and product development ways. As you choose the MVP you will be able to minimize risk also reduce the time to market and most importantly you will able to collect real-time feedback that will help you refine your product. Remember, the key to a successful product launch lies in continuous iteration based on user insights. By staying flexible and open to feedback, you can build a product that truly meets the needs of your customers and sets your business up for long-term success.
FAQ
1. What are the types of MVPs?
There are many different types of MVPs the most known are listed below.
- The Fake Door
- Landing Page
- Email Campaign
- Marketing Campaign
- Single-Feature
- Pre-order
- Concierge
- Wizard of Oz
- Piecemeal
- Explainer Video
2. How much does it cost to build a full-fledged MVP?
The cost of building an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) isn’t fixed. It depends on factors like:
- Features: The more features you include, the greater the price.
- Complexity: A simple MVP costs less than a complex one.
- Team: Costs vary depending on whether you hire freelancers, an agency, or an in-house team.
- Location: Developer rates differ based on where they’re located.
On average, building an MVP can cost anywhere between $5,000 to $50,000, but it may be more for advanced projects.
3. How much time does it take to create an MVP?
The time required varies according to the MVP’s complexity. Simple apps can take between two and three months. For more complex products, it could take 4-6 months or more.
4. How to Create an MVP?
Here are the 7 main steps:
- Define your idea: Know what problem your product will solve.
- Concentrate on Core Features: Keep it basic. Include only the important aspects.
- Research your audience: Understand who your users are and what they require.
- Design a Prototype: Make a simple visual model to test ideas.
- Create an MVP: Build the product with a team or agency.
- Test and Launch: Distribute it to a small audience for feedback.
- Iterate and improve based on user input.
5. Is it required to create an MVP?
It’s not required, but highly recommended. Building an MVP eliminates risks and allows you to get useful input from early consumers to help enhance your product.
